Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday he is open to a review of the military's ban on transgender individuals. (Brian Kersey / Getty Images)

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Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday he is open to a review of the military’s ban on transgender individuals.

“I’m open to those assessments, because — again, I go back to the bottom line — every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it,” Hagel said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Calls to lift the transgender ban have come in the wake of the 2010 repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gay and lesbian service members.

From ABC News:

“Hagel said his biggest concern is providing the medical support necessary to support transgender individuals, especially if they are stationed in what he called ‘austere locations.’

“A recent commission, co-chaired by a former U.S. surgeon general, found that there was no ‘compelling medical rationale’ for not allowing transgender military service.”